FORMER AFC Totton chairman Sean Whelan is urging the local football and business community to get behind the stricken Southern Premier Division club.

Although Whelan applauds the efforts of members, fans and the interim executive committee who are working tirelessly to get the debt-ridden Stags back on their feet, he feels those outside the club should be doing more to support them in their hour of need.

Whelan briefly took over as Totton chairman in March last year at a time when the club were still reeling from the acrimonious departure of Jim Fallon as main sponsor.

He quit just a month later, describing it as “a challenge too far”, and later had a spell as chairman of Sholing.

But Whelan still has a warm affection for Totton – and hopes more people will follow his example of trying to help the club out.

“I’ve bought an AFC Totton season-ticket, which I might not even use, but at least I’ve done my bit,” he said.

“I’ve also got a magnificent photo of a stag (Totton’s nickname) taken by an award-winning photographer in the Scottish Highlands.

“I’m going to put it in a nice frame and I’ve told Totton they can have that on me as a donation for an auction at one of their dos.

“I’m trying to do something positive as Mr Neutral.

“I’ve got no official capacity at any club, but I feel really strongly that the local football and business communities should be rallying round and playing their part in supporting Totton rather than punishing them.

“As much as the club’s been mismanaged in the past, you can’t punish the people who are there now trying to save it.”

Whelan added: “Everybody can do their little bit to help, even if it’s only donating a tenner.”

Both Gosport Borough (Monday, July 15, 7.30pm) and Sholing (Tuesday, July 30) are visiting Totton for pre-season friendlies – a gesture Whelan wholeheartedly applauds.

“We should take that as an example of good sportsmanship and good football ethics,” he said.

“And if they can do it, why can’t local businesses support Totton too?

“There are quite a few big employers in Totton and many of them have employees who spend their weekends watching the team. Surely they must recognise they owe it to the community to help the club out.

“The fans and the new committee have spoken about how desperate they are to save their club and we should all come together and help them as much as we can.”